Definitions for describe
dɪˈskraɪbde·scribe

Princeton's WordNet(4.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. describe, depict, draw(verb)

   give a description of

   "He drew an elaborate plan of attack"

2. report, describe, account(verb)

   to give an account or representation of in words

   "Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental"

3. trace, draw, line, describe, delineate(verb)

   make a mark or lines on a surface

   "draw a line"; "trace the outline of a figure in the sand"

4. identify, discover, key, key out, distinguish, describe, name(verb)

   identify as in botany or biology, for example

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. describe(Verb)

   To represent in words.

   The feeling is difficult to describe, but not unpleasant.

   Etymology: From descriven, from descrivre, from describo, from de + scribo; see scribe and shrive.

2. describe(Verb)

   To give rise to a geometrical structure.

   Etymology: From descriven, from descrivre, from describo, from de + scribo; see scribe and shrive.

3. describe(Verb)

   To scientifically reveal a new species by technically explaining its characteristics and particularly how it differs from other species.

   The fungus was first described by a botanist.

   Etymology: From descriven, from descrivre, from describo, from de + scribo; see scribe and shrive.

Webster Dictionary(1.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Describe(verb)

   to represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to describe a circle

2. Describe(verb)

   to represent by words written or spoken; to give an account of; to make known to others by words or signs; as, the geographer describes countries and cities

3. Describe(verb)

   to distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to class

4. Describe(verb)

   to use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as, Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(4.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Describe

   dē-skrīb′, v.t. to trace out or delineate: to give an account of.—adj. Describ′able.—n. Describ′er. [L. describĕre—de, down, and scribĕre, scriptum, to write.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. describe

   To create using words.

   They did describe how they felt and it was great to know they too were also happy and felt very loved.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 16, 2020  

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'describe' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2425

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'describe' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2430

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'describe' in Verbs Frequency: #93

How to pronounce describe?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say describe in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of describe in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of describe in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of describe in a Sentence

1. Christopher Pyne:

   Obviously that is disappointing and we'll be raising that ... with Chinese government officials, he's being held in residential surveillance, which we would normally describe as home detention ... my understanding is it's in Beijing.

2. Osbee Sampson Junior:

   Words can't describe it. Really can't. It means a whole lot to me. I just can't believe it. I really can't.

3. Eddie Phillips:

   It is a valid criticism to say we have not convinced the public to walk more appreciably, and those recommendations will remain, but if we can now recommend to patients that, ‘Gees, if you just get up out of your chair when the commercial comes on or drink more water and have to go to the bathroom,’ even that is enough to break up the prolonged sedentary bouts they describe in the research.

4. Swiss Blatter:

   It is disturbing, to say the least, to hear Dr Chung Mong-joon describe FIFA as a' corrupt organization' during a press conference announcing Dr Chung Mong-joon candidacy, even more so when one recalls, and as Dr Chung can not have forgotten, that Dr Chung was Dr Chung and a FIFA emergency committee member for 17 years from 1994 until 2011.

5. Lori Greiner:

   This sounds easy, but you’d be surprised at how many people have a hard time articulating their idea, if it takes you more than one or two sentences to describe your product or business, you probably don’t have a clear enough vision of how it’s going to work or whom it’s for.

Images & Illustrations of describe

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